RICHARD TODD – Born 100 Years ago today

One of our most popular film stars of the 1950s both here and in the USA was Richard Todd – he was born in Ireland on 11 June 1919.

He had gone into acting before the War but it was in the late Forties that he got his film break and  in only his second film ‘The Hasty Heart’ he won acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic.

He followed this with the Walt Disney Films ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’  which was the first and most memorable of the three.

He had by then accepted a one-a-year film contract with 20th Century Fox in America  which proved very beneficial for him.

Here he is ABOVE – with Barnes Wallis at the screening of The Dam Busters – in one of his most famous roles as Guy Gibson

He lived for much of his later life in Lincolnshre, Nr Grantham – with his wife Virginia and two sons.

As we remember D Day only a few days ago, it has to be remembered that he was the first paratrooper of the invasion force,  to land in Normandy close to Pegasus Bridge which he was involved in taking and holding under the command of Major John Howard.

His film heroics a few years later didn’t come nowhere near what he had done at that time.

We should all raise a glass to him this evening ‘ Happy Birthday, Richard Todd’